Another Day in the Life…

July 21, 2009

Don’t know where to begin – except to say other than Sam and Hannah being very close to each other, they also share the same caring quality; have that same concerned character about them. It’s from their father I am sure…

Here is just one evening for us…

After being home alone for 2 days (David busy with work and catering to Ben’s extremely active social life – we see David for an hour in the morning; he gets home at 11p.m.) with nothing to do but roast away in the hot Arizona summer high temps, I thought it would be good to take a break from the monotony and get out of the house and spend the 20 bucks in my wallet on supper for us three. Well I had no idea just how much the monotony would be broken up.

An aside… as I sit down to write this complete with pencil and yellow writing tablet (have to use these tools because I am outside) my 7 yo son reputed to have autism is voluntarily cleaning horse poop out of 2 paddocks. He, Sam, is doing this after doctoring poor old mom up by bandaging her bleeding right knee. (I slightly injured (read barely scraped) myself trying to find Sam who of course was playing in his water fountain). Sam, such the hard worker. He said he was cleaning the paddocks to make Dad happy. He asked, “Do you think Dad will like it?” “Yes, Sam, Dad will love it.” Wish teenagers had the heart Sam does, or at least were as thoughtful and hardworking. We’ll see what the future has in store for St. Sam…

Then Sam told me, “Call Dad, because I’m gonna sleep with Mom all night because she hurt her knee badly and I need to help her. Mom, you need to gently get into bed and be careful with the covers so you don’t hurt your knee.” Who’s the blessed mother of sons???

But all this took place after the EMT situation – yes – the drama continues and I am a wall flower – a behind the scenes, stay OUT of the limelight person – call me an INTROVERT! Just where is my CAVE! – I’ve misplaced it!!!!!

We are so tired of this – we want out. We are overwhelmed and worn out!

And now, stay tuned for tonight’s episode of…… of what….   of situations we (Hannah and I mainly) don’t want to be in!

We are out at a neighborhood mexican low-key (LOW-KEY) restaurant. Sam and Hannah are finished and they take their quarters over to the candy machine to get M&Ms etc. I, as always, have my eyes fixed on Hannah and see her eyes roll up and her fall down. I am out of my seat in a heartbeat and rush over to catch her head before it slams to the floor. After she recovers, we three go into ladies room to wash our hands. Once we come to the table, the man sitting at another table asks if she is alright (or so I thought). I nodded, “Yes we’re fine, she’s fine thanks for asking blah blah blah.” Next thing I know his wife told me as she is on her cell phone that they called 911. Her husband, she explains is a fireman and he knew what was happening. I said NO, we don’t need EMT, my daughter has epilepsy blah blah blah.. Please call back and cancel the call, I will talk to the dispatcher myself. Which I did – but …

Well too late! We see a Surprise Fire truck right outside the restaurant windows. Hannah begins tearing up and my heart sinks low again in less than a week. Not sure how strong my heart actually is – but we are finding out! I met the EMTs at the door and told them I tried to cancel the call, my daughter has epilepsy, is having surgery next Tuesday… you get the drift… Hannah is just horrified and scared. But of course they by law had to complete the call. I understood and asked if there was  release form I could sign. There was but only after they took Hannah’s vitals. Hannah was just mortified. I promised her I wouldn’t leave her and that she could stay on my lap and explained what vitals were. The EMT took us over to a corner of the restaurant. After she realized they were not taking her away, explained what all those menacing-looking black cases carried by the EMTs were,  and that they weren’t going to be opened for her, she got chatty as we all know her to be. Sam also helped with “explanations” of how Hannah has seizures and the hosptial and on and on.You can just bet I asked for prayer from these angels of mercy for next Tuesday. I talked with the captain too after he apologized for just doing his job. Told him I understood and asked him to spread our prayer request around. The paramedic Matt Clarkson, who “treated” Hannah, had a tattoo on his arm of a cross with a C. Hannah asked him about it, snicker snicker… Always the evangelist. He said he got it in Dublin and that he was Celtic ~ well perhaps our sweet little Hannah will inspire him – in fact he said of her that she is just delightful, a real treasure and he wished her the best for next week – We know what a treasure we have in her. EMT Matt Clarkson doesn’t have to tell me, though I am glad he saw her for who she is.

I know what a treasure I am blessed with in her. Hannah is truly a gift. Her brother Sam, with his nursing ways, caring heart, and hard working ethic is too. I store these treasures in my heart… I forever will.

The “fireman” who called 911 though I said not to, left. He, wife and family were no where to be found. Hmmm.